With the release of Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, comparisons across platforms have revealed notable differences in performance and visual quality between PlayStation 5, PlayStation 5 Pro, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S. While the remake delivers the familiar espionage adventure in modern detail, analysis suggests the most stable experience currently lies with the standard PlayStation 5.
On PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, players can choose between two display modes: Quality and Performance. These options allow trade-offs between higher visual fidelity and smoother framerates. In contrast, the PS5 Pro and Xbox Series S are restricted to a single display mode. The Xbox Series S version includes broad graphical cutbacks, particularly in lighting, reflections, and shadows, while the PS5 Pro’s mode attempts to balance 60 frames per second with higher-quality settings. However, this comes at the cost of significantly reduced internal resolution and uneven performance.
Compounding this issue is the implementation of Sony’s PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) upscaling, which does not appear to adapt well to the game. The result mirrors issues observed in other Unreal Engine 5 titles, such as the Silent Hill 2 remake. Critics of the current build have described the PS5 Pro version as less recommendable than the base PS5 version, an unusual finding given the system’s enhanced hardware.
Performance mode comparisons further highlight disparities between platforms. On PS5, the mode results in more aggressive lighting reductions compared to Xbox Series X, which maintains closer parity with its Quality mode but introduces shimmering artifacts. Meanwhile, PS5 holds a notable advantage in reflections, which remain sharper than those found on the Xbox Series X performance mode. Conversely, Xbox reduces reflection quality to levels closer to those of the Xbox Series S.
The outcome of these differences is that the standard PlayStation 5 runs the most consistently, outperforming both Xbox Series X and PS5 Pro in overall stability. It can be concluded that adjustments to the PS5 Pro build are necessary, particularly through the addition of alternative upscaling solutions such as FSR or TSR and a dedicated performance mode with higher resolution to match the system’s capabilities.
Originally released in 2004, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is considered one of the franchise’s most significant entries, both for its Cold War setting and the introduction of pivotal characters. The 2025 remake, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, is Konami’s first major installment in the series since Metal Gear Survive in 2018. Developed internally with assistance from Virtuos, the remake aims to faithfully recreate the original’s story and mechanics while presenting them with modern visuals and refinements.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater launched on August 28, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows.
